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Category: Through the Bible Page 8 of 46

Displeasing Marriages

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On May 4, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26 starts out with the
– deception of Isaac that nearly killed the lineage of the then king Abimelech (verses 1-11),
– discord over water rights between Isaac’s servants and the servants of Abimelech (verses 12-22),
– defense and declaration of God’s covenant with Isaac (verses 23-25),
– deal of peace between Isaac and Abimelech (verses 26-33)
and finally ends with the
– displeasing marriages of Esau, Isaac’s firstborn son (verses 34-35).

The Bible accounts that Esau was forty years old when he married not one but two Hittite wives – Judith the daughter of Beeri and Bashemath the daughter of Elon and these pagan women made the life of Isaac and his wife Rebekah, miserable. These daughters-in-law were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau marriages were displeasing.

Points to ponder:
Before we go about condemning Esau for his foolish marriages of worldly (not godly) wives, let us take a moment to introspect ourselves. Many a times, we would find ourselves getting married to the things of this world (be it power, position, prosperity, or pleasure). Our marriages to the worldly things brings displeasure to God and so we ought to divorce ourselves from the things of this ephemeral world and keep ourselves chaste (by the power of the Holy Spirit of God) and look forward to the wedding of the Lamb of God as the bride of Christ (Revelation 19).

What are the things of this world that you are married to that you ought to divorce so that you dont grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and displease God? (2 Samuel 11:27). Answer that question and act on it, today.

Genesis 26:34-35 (KJV)
34 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
35 Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Finding (living) Water

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On May 3, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:32-33 records that on the same day that Isaac had made a peace treaty with Abimelech, the king of Gerar, his servants came to him and told him regarding the well they had dug, that they had found water and Isaac called that well Shebah (and hence the name of the city where he had moved to is Beersheba). Shebah means an oath in Hebrew.

What is important to note is that it is to Beersheba that Abraham first brings Isaac after the sacrifice on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:19) and dwelt there. It is in Beersheba that Abraham makes an oath of peace with Abimelech, the then king of Gerar (Genesis 21:22-34). Why is Beersheba important? Because it was a step in the direction of the promised land that God had promised Abraham.

The contention over the wells of Abraham, namely Esek and Sitnah, by the herdsmen of Gerar made Isaac retreat to a place of no contention as he names the well that he dug there Rehoboth (Genesis 26:20-22). To Abraham and Isaac, the wells were a sign of God’s provisions while to the philistines and the men of Gerar, it was a sign of property which made them fill/stop the wells that Abraham had dug (Genesis 26:17) and fight over the one that Isaac had dug (Genesis 26:19). The contention that ensues, can be seen, in hindsight, as God nudging Isaac to move toward the promised land.

However, what is noteworthy is that Isaac does not stay where the well Rehoboth was (even though there was no contention there), but instead moves to Beersheba (possibly because he trusted in God as did his father, looking forward toward a city whose builder and maker was God himself (Hebrews 11:10)), and on that same night, the Lord appears and assures Isaac of his covenant with his father, Abraham. Isaac responds by building an altar first, and worshipping the Lord God before pitching his tent there and digging a well there. (Genesis 26:25). After the peace treaty amongst whom he deemed were his enemies (who hated him), his servants report of finding water (Genesis 26:32).

Points to ponder:
While the digging of the well indicates that one intends to live in that land and use the water to sustain his family and flocks, we see here that Isaac did not dig the well, first to find water, before pitching his tent and building an altar to worship God. In fact, that order was reversed.  He gave God the priority over his and his family and flock’s physical needs. He built the altar first, worshipped God and then pitched his tent and dug the well, and God enables him to find water in that well.

This resonates with the very model Jesus laid out for us – that we ought to seek the spiritual things first (God’s kingdom) and all the things that are needed to sustain us shall be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). In other words, in order to find water that sustains us physically, we ought to seek first the living Water that saves us spiritually, i.e., seek the living water that only Jesus can provide – the water that bring not just sustenance of life, but salvation to life aka eternal life (John 4:10-15). Have you found (living) Water? i.e., have you believed in Jesus’ Lordship and saving grace?

Genesis 26:32-33 (KJV)
32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.
33 And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.

Peace amongst enemies

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On May 2, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:26-31 records to account of the peace treaty that is established between Isaac and Abimelech, the king of Gerar. Isaac had been sent away from the land of Gerar, as the servants of Abimelech quarreled with the servants of Isaac, over the wells that were dug by Abraham. Now after some time, we see Abimelech the king himself, along with one of his friends Ahuzzath,  and the chief captain of his army Phichol come to Isaac, seeking a covenant of peace (verse 26, 28). Isaac who had felt that he was being hated by the king for having been sent away questions the reason as to why Abimelech has come to see him (verse 27). The king’s response is noteworthy. This pagan king recognized that the Lord was with Isaac (verse 28) and that Isaac was blessed of the Lord (verse 29) and sought a covenant of peace with Isaac. Isaac obliges overlooking his feelings and responds with hospitality, making his visitors a feast and letting them rest at his place. The next morning they swore one to another and the prior enemies leave the presence of Isaac in peace (as friends) (verses 29-31).

Points to ponder:
When the Lord is with us and we are blessed of the Lord, even the pagans (enemies) around us, seek to live in peace with us, when they recognize the sovereignty of God over our lives. When they do, despite the hurt that they may have caused us, as followers of Jesus, we ought to forgive and treat them with hospitality, seeking to live in peace amongst enemies. Why, because, this emulates the love of God – for while we were still sinners (i.e., enemies of God), God demonstrated his love for us and gave us his Only begotten Son, who died for our sins (Romans 5:8). For God has turned us, prior enemies of his, into friends of his, by the peace treaty between God and man, signed by the blood of his Son Jesus Christ, that was shed on the Cross, and we must do so likewise.

Let us seek to live in peace with all, even our enemies – and when our enemies seek to live in peace with us, then rejoice for they see how the Lord is with us and how blessed we are. Do your enemies seek to live in peace with you?

Genesis 26:26-31 (KJV)
26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
28 And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord.
30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.
31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

Altar-native

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On April 29, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord God appeared and assured Isaac of his blessings, because of his faithfulness to Isaac’s faithful father, Isaac built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, pitching his tent there and Isaac’s servants digged a well there.

The right response when the Lord God appears in our life and assures to bless us for his faithfulness extends to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9), we must worship (call on the name of) the Lord God, and build in our hearts his altar and pitch our tent there – becoming natives of the altar. We must dig into our life, as an altar-native, so that living waters (Holy Spirit) may flow out of our lives.

Points to ponder:
Are you an altar-native? In the presence and promises of the Lord God, there should be no other alternative for us except us being an altar-native. Are you an altar-native?

Genesis 26:24-25 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

The Lord’s perpetuity, presence and promise

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On April 27, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord appeared to Isaac at Beersheba, he assured Isaac of:
– his perpetuity (I am the God of Abraham thy father),
– his presence (I am with thee), and
– his promise (I will bless thee and multiply thy seed).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said that before Abraham was he is (John 8:58) and that Abraham saw his day and rejoiced (John 8:56). Jesus also established that he and the Father God are one (John 10:30). Jesus is everlasting chosen from even before the foundations of the world (1 Peter 1:20). Jesus is perpetual.
Jesus said that he is with his followers, always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is with all who open their lives to him (Revelation 3:20), believing in him and have receiving him as their Savior, Master and Lord (Revelation 3:20).
In Jesus Christ, we are blessed in heavenly places with spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-6).

If you think your life is short, come to Jesus who is perpetual and in whom is eternal life.
If you think that you are all alone, be assured the Jesus has promised to be with you always.
If you think that your life is a curse, in Christ Jesus, you are blessed with spiritual blessings (chosen by God, cleansed by God, adopted as a child of God, credited into the Lamb of God’s book of life) in heavenly places.
The question that remains is: Are you blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, by a perpetual, ever-present, promise keeping God? In other words, are you in Christ, having believed in him as Savior, Lord and Master of your life? The contrary is a dire situation. Are you blessed in Christ Jesus?

Genesis 26:24-25 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

For my servant’s sake

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On April 26, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:24 records an interesting phrase – “For my servant Abraham’s sake.”

In this account, we see that Isaac, the son of Abraham, is assured of God’s blessings because of Abraham. Not only does this signify the faithfulness of God in keeping the covenant, God made with Abraham (Genesis 22:16-19) in the same place (Beersheba) where Isaac was now (Genesis 26:23), but it also assures that God blesses others for the sake of those who serve him. Isaac was not blessed on account of his own merit, but because of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, who was faithful in serving God.

Points to ponder:
Jesus, the Son of God, who was prophesied as the Servant of the Lord (Zechariah 3:8; Isaiah 42:1), took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7) and demonstrated that we ought to serve one another just as he served – in action and not just words (John 13:14-15; Matthew 20:28).

For the sake of Abraham, Isaac (and subsequently the nation of Israel) was blessed.
For the sake of Jesus, the Servant Son of God, all of the nations (Matthew 12:21; Colossians 1:27) are blessed.

Remember, the greatest accolade that one can receive is the title of a ‘good and faithful servant.’ Let us live our lives in a manner looking forward to the greatest honor we can receive, when we face Jesus face to face, when he says “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:23).

The questions we need to ask ourselves then are:
– Are we servants of the Lord?
– Are others around us (especially our family – both natural and spiritual/church) blessed for our sake by the Lord?

In other words, can God say “I will bless so and so for your sake, because you are my (good and faithful) servant?” Now don’t leave this question unanswered.

Genesis 26:24 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Fear Not – what does that mean?

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On April 25, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Grammy Award winning singer, Chris Tomlin beautifully expressed this motif, that if God is with us, then there is nothing or no one that we need to be afraid of, in his song, Whom Shall I fear? (The God of Angel Armies). Now hold that thought.

Genesis 26:24 gives the account of the Lord appearing to Isaac, on the very same night, that he had moved up to Beersheba and the Lord first identifies himself to be the God of Abraham, Isaac’s father. Then the Lord says that he will bless and multiply Isaac, for the sake of Abraham, but before this reassurance is given, the Lord starts out by telling Isaac to Fear Not. Why? Because the Lord says that he was with Isaac.

Isaac was in a foreign land. His servants had just been in contention with the servants of the king Abimelech of Gerar. And while these events could have given him the sense that he was alone in battling the circumstances and life issues, the Lord comes through with the assurance that he was with Isaac and so Isaac had no reason to fear. There was nothing Isaac had to be afraid of because God was with him.

Points to ponder:
When fear seems to grip your heart and you feel that you are all alone, battling the issues of life, you can call on to the Lord and when he is with you, you have nothing to fear. No matter what the situation is and how dire things seem, when you have the God of angel armies with you, fear not.

Jesus’ name was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and proclaimed by the angel Gabriel to Mary that he shall be called “Emmanuel” meaning God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). And Jesus promised that he is with those who love him and obey his commands, following him, always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

The question that remains is “Are you afraid?”. In other words, that can be translated into “Is the Lord with you?” Now take note, if the God of angel armies, the Lord is not with you – then that is a dreadful thing!

Genesis 26:24 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Re-digging Wells

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On March 10, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:15-18 gives the account of Isaac, the son of Abraham, re-digging the wells that his father’s servants had dug. These well had been stopped (filled) by the Philistines. Abraham had dug the wells as a symbol of an oath between him and the then king Abimelech to establish that he had dug the well. Abraham called it Beersheba, the well of the oath. Here he called on (worshipped) the name the Lord after that treaty was made (Genesis 21:22-34). The action of the Philistines stopping the well was in a sense symbolic of the removal of the place of worship, and Isaac’s act of re-digging the well was indicative of restoring the place of worship.

Points to ponder:
While God can be worshipped anywhere, and a place is not what defines true worship, Isaac’s act is however important, to reassert that worship when opposed or stopped must be re-established and continued. Has your worship of the Lord God stopped? If so, take action today. In other words, re-dig the wells …

Genesis 26:15-18 (KJV)
15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

To the envy of our enemies

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On March 9, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:14 records that the Philistines envied Isaac. The Philistines were historically the enemies of the Israelites and they envied Isaac, because Isaac had become not just a great man, but a very great man with possessions of flocks, herds and servants. He had reaped a hundredfold from what he had sowed in the land of Gerar, in that same year. Why, not because of his own doing or efforts, but because the Lord blessed him.

Points to ponder:
When the hand of the Lord is upon you, then what you sow with your hand can reap a hundredfold in a period and not just become great but very great, much to the envy of your enemies. If your enemies envy you, they do so mostly because they are looking at your possessions and it is easy to lose focus for us as well to foolishly look not at our possessions, but instead we need to look at the Lord God, the possessor of all things and praise him alone, for that is an evidence of God’s hand upon you and his blessings are a hundredfold in your life. Do your enemies envy you?

Genesis 26:12-14 (KJV)
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Not learning from the Father

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On March 3, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:7-9 records the account of Isaac’s sin – sin of lying and deception, just as his father Abraham had done so to Pharaoh (Genesis 12) and Abimelech (the title given to), the king of Gerar (Genesis 20) where he dwelt. Isaac did not learn from his father’s mistake. His father Abraham has made the mistake and lied about Sarah being his sister for fear of his life and that was an example of something that Isaac should have not followed. Instead, to the men of Gerar, Isaac made the same mistake and lied that his wife Rebekah was his sister, for he feared that they would kill him and take her away. The fact that Isaac was a relative of Rebekah, does not still discount the fact that he lied about his marital relationship with Rebekah. But when Isaac is discovered and caught red-handed by the king himself, he confesses that he was afraid for his life.

Points to ponder:
Though this account in no way provides any substance to the doctrine of generational curse, we must recognize that children tend to follow the example of their parents, even when their action is clearly wrong. It is therefore imperative that we live our lives as god-fearing men and women and that our children learn the ways of the Lord God from us. We can learn from God our Father how we ought to live and be, and from us, our children can benefit to be godly as well. This way, no one can tell of us or our children that we are not learning from the Father.

Genesis 26:7-9 (KJV)
7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

 

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